Best Practice Protocols for Physique Assessment in Sport

This book outlines best practice protocols for body composition analysis of high-performance athletes and provides guidance on the use of new technologies for anthropometry. While surface anthropometry has traditionally been used to assess body composition through the internationally recognised methodology of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK), the recent commercialisation of devices, such as bioelectrical impedance technologies, dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), ultrasound, 3D photometry and air-displacement plethysmography (Bod Pod), has led to the non-standardised adoption of new measurement techniques. In this textbook, leading researchers detail standardisation procedures for each technology: in terms of athlete preparation, test protocols, test reporting, equipment calibration and data interpretation. Each chapter covers a different tool: how it works, what it is used to measure, and what the issues are surrounding its validity, practicality and reliability. This book provides an essential reference for device technicians and sport practitioners, ensuring that high-performance athletes are afforded accurate and comparable body composition information to guide their training routines.

Patria Hume is Professor of Human Performance at the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, Auckland University of Technology, New Zealand. Patria has a PhD in sports injury biomechanics, and an MSc(Hons) and BSc in exercise physiology and sports psychology. Patria was the inaugural Director of the Sports Performance Research Institute New Zealand (SPRINZ) from 2000-2009 and is Director of the SPRINZ J.E. Lindsay Carter Kinanthropometry Clinic and Archive. Patria was the Associate Dean Research for the Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences (2013-2015). Patria’s research focuses on improving sport performance using sports biomechanics and sports anthropometry, and reducing sporting injuries by investigating injury mechanisms, injury prevention methods and using sports epidemiology analyses. In 2000, Patria was a coinvestigator for the Sydney Olympics anthropometry project. Patria served as Director of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (2006-2009) and is an editor of several journals including Sports Medicine. Patria received the 2016 Geoffrey Dyson award from the International Society for Biomechanics in Sports, and the 2016 AUT Research Medal. Patria provides surface anthropometry and ultrasound body composition analysis to athletes, and conducts research using body composition techniques.

Associate Professor Deborah Kerr is a research academic with a PhD in exercise and bone health and Master of Science in body composition. Deborah is an Accredited Practising Dietitian and a fellow of Sports Dietitians Australia and an internationally recognised expert in body composition and physique assessment. Deborah is the only Level 4 ISAK accredited anthropometrist in Australia and one of 16 appointed by ISAK world-wide and qualifies her to conduct accre

dited training courses in anthropometry. Deborah’s research focuses on improving sport performance using sports nutrition and sports anthropometry and she has been an investigator on several large sports anthropometry projects. In 2000, Deborah was a coinvestigator for the Sydney Olympics anthropometry project. She has published numerous book chapters and journal publications in body composition and physique assessment. Deborah served as Director of the International Society for the Advancement of Kinanthropometry (ISAK) and for Sports Dietitians Australia.

Tim Ackland is Professor of Applied Anatomy & Biomechanics, and was Head of the School of Sport Science, Exercise and Health, at The University of Western Australia. He has research interests in the mechanics of human movement with themes spanning exercise rehabilitation, high performance sport and human performance in industry. Prof.

Ackland has published over 130 peer-reviewed papers as well as 5 academic books and 30 book chapters. He has served as a Director of Sports Medicine Australia and was a member of the IOC Medical Commission’s working party on Body Composition, Health and Performance. Tim also chaired the Scientific Programme Committee for the 5th IOC World Congress on Sport Sciences for the 2000 Olympics, and was Conference Co-chair for Sports Medicine Australia in Perth, 2001. In 2000, Tim was a principle researcher for the Sydney Olympics anthropometry project.  Tim has been an ISAK4 kinanthropometrist.